What we learned on Kentucky's past Bahamas trips

MrsTylerKSR

On3 image — Photo by Dr. Michael Huang | Kentucky Sports Radio

More than anything, Kentucky’s trip to the Bahamas is an opportunity for the coaches to experiment with the 2022-23 squad. Over the course of ten practices and four games, John Calipari and his staff will be able to try out different lineups to see what works and what doesn’t almost three months before the season opener.

The past two teams that went to the Bahamas during the summer, 2014-15 and 2018-19, definitely benefitted from that head start. I combed through the KSR archives today to see what we were saying about those teams during their Bahamas trips. For the most part, those early takeaways ended up being spot on. Let’s take a trip down memory lane to Paradise Island…

2014 Bahamas Trip: 5-1

Results

8/10/2014: Puerto Rico Reserves: 74-49 W
8/11/2014: Champagne Chalons-Reims Basket: 81-58 W
8/12/2014: Puerto Rico Reserves: 93-57 W
8/15/2014: Dominican Republic: 83-71 W
8/16/2014: Champagne Chalons-Reims Basket: 77-72 W
8/17/2014: Dominican Republic: 63-62 L

The Cats played six games on their first trip to the Bahamas and finished 5-1, the sole loss being to Orlando Antigua’s Dominican Republic National Team on the final day. That loss did little to damper our excitement as we realized just how special this group could be.

Platooning was already happening

The defining feature of the 2014-15 squad was the platoon system. Even during the preseason exhibitions, John Calipari rotated two groups of five, although they looked different than the platoons we’d come to know during the regular season. (Willie Cauley-Stein and Trey Lyles didn’t play in the Bahamas as they recovered from injuries.)

“The platoon system gives the Cats two completely different looks,” I wrote at the time. “Team 1 (the Harrisons, Booker, Poythress, and Dakari) is much more physical and can pound the ball inside with ease, while Team 1A (Ulis, Hawkins, Willis, Lee, Towns) brings the energy, moving the ball the length of the court in a blink of an eye and pestering defenses into quick turnovers. Not only does the platoon system allow Kentucky to attack opponents in two different ways, it keeps the legs fresh, completely wearing other teams out. Calipari said he’s considering using the platoon system at times during the regular season, and I’m all for it.”

One major reason the platoon combinations changed during the season has to do with my next topic…

“Alex Poythress is a different player”

Leading up to the 2014 Bahamas trip, Alex Poythress was the talk of Kentucky’s summer workouts. He backed that up on the exhibition tour, leading all scorers with 71 total points and playing with unwavering confidence. I went as far as to write that he looked like a totally different player.

“He was terrific,” Calipari said of Poythress after the first game. “That’s as good as he’s played.”

Sadly, Poythress tore his ACL in mid-December and missed the rest of the season. As a result, Calipari went platoon-lite, using more lineup combinations as the season went on in addition to the Blue and White platoons. When it comes to Kentucky Basketball “what-ifs,” what may have happened had Poythress not been injured is up there.

“Karl Towns is the BBN’s new BFF”

This doesn’t have much to do with basketball, but it didn’t take us long to fall in love with Karl-Anthony Towns.

“I know we’ve been saying it for the past week, but Karl Towns is pretty much the nicest person ever,” I wrote. “Whereas some of the players seemed a little shy with fans, the Big KAT embraced all of them, taking pictures and ‘shoefies’ with anyone who asked.”

“My biggest takeaway from the entire trip is being around Karl Towns and seeing what an incredible young man he is,” Drew wrote. “He’s truly the nicest person I’ve ever encountered and he’s only 18 years old.”

Oscar Tshiebwe is giving Karl a run for his money in this department, but those words still ring true.

“It’s going to be tough to keep Tyler Ulis off the floor“

Drew Franklin said that after one game.

“The Ulis debut backed up everything we’ve heard and seen from UK’s summer practices. The kid is good. He lived up to the hype today by showing off his stifling defense in the full court and his vision on the offensive end. He goes wherever he wants with the ball and puts it in the hands of the open man, leading Jay Bilas to say on the broadcast, ‘A lot of guys look, but he sees.'”

He was right.

“This season is one we need to cherish”

If there was one word to describe our mood at the end of the 2014 Bahamas trip, it was giddy. Every recap, even the one after the Cats lost to the Dominican Republic National Team, was brimming with excitement for the upcoming season. No one was happier than Calipari, who manned the TV cameras and shared his swagginess on the UK radio broadcast.

“Don’t let anyone bring us down because they’re going to try to,” Cal told fans. “DON’T DO IT.”

Jay Bilas even addressed the team, telling the players he believed they had a chance to do something “historic.”

“This season is one we need to cherish,” I wrote. “I don’t think the Cats will ever have this many talented, experienced players again, and two months before the season even starts, they look damn good.”

“Kentucky is really good at basketball,” Drew echoed. “It’s going to be a fun year.”

It really was.

2018 Bahamas Trip: 4-0

Results

8/8/2018: Bahamas National Team: 85-61 W
8/9/2018: San Lorenzo de Almagro: 91-68 W
8/11/2018: Mega Bemax: 100-64 W
8/12/2018: Team Toronto: 93-60 W

Flash forward four years and the Cats returned to the Atlantis for a four-game exhibition tour. They went 4-0, winning by an average margin of 29 points, the most impressive victory coming over Serbian pro squad Mega Bemax. Two players, EJ Montgomery and Jemarl Baker, missed most of the games but we still got a good glimpse of the 2018-19 Cats. One moment immediately comes to mind.

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Tyler Herro shot the lights out

The highlight of the trip came during the second game, vs. San Lorenzo de Almagro from Argentina. Right after Tyler Herro hit his third three, the lights went out. Power outages are common on Paradise Island, but the timing was poetic. “Tyler Herro shot the lights out” became the BBN’s favorite catchphrase. The freshman led Kentucky in scoring in the Bahamas with 69 total points (17.25 PPG) on 24-41 shooting (59%), adding 8-18 from three (44%) and 15-15 from the free throw line.

“Arguably the biggest takeaway from this trip was just how freaking good Tyler Herro is offensively,” Jack Pilgrim wrote. “He scored at all three levels, created his own shot, and did it all on ridiculous efficiency.”

“Tyler Herro is a folk herro,” I quipped.

Sophomore PJ Washington and Sophomore Nick Richards stood out

Of the returning sophomores on the 2018-19 squad, PJ Washington stood out the most on the Bahamas tour. He was second on the team in scoring behind Herro, averaging 14.5 points per game on 51.4% shooting. Washington also showed off some range, hitting 3-7 (42.9%) threes in four games, just two fewer than he made his entire freshman year.

“As for PJ Washington, have mercy,” Jack wrote. “Sources within the program told me earlier this offseason that the team fully expects him to win SEC Player of the Year, and from what we’ve seen in the Bahamas, that wouldn’t be a surprise at all.”

Nick Richards also showed signs of improvement. He dominated the first game vs. the Bahamas National Team, leading the team in scoring with 19 points. He finished the week averaging 12.0 points and 4.8 rebounds. Sophomore Nick Richards still wasn’t the beast that Junior Nick Richards was, but try telling that to Drew Franklin.

“Sophomore Nick Richards is an animal. He’s not the Nick Richards of yesteryear. He’s the new version with new confidence, better hands, the offense of Hakeem Olajuwon and the defense of five Dikembe Mutombos. If you’re to rank the greatest centers of all time, he’s at the top of the list. He’s Wilt Chamberlain meets Shaquille O’Neal. He’s George Mikan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Patrick Ewing and David Robinson all rolled up together in one freakishly big and athletic frame. And next time you’re debating LeBron versus Jordan, you’re debating who is second behind Sophomore Nick Richards. Put some respect on his name.”

One 2018-19 storyline we see coming during the Bahamas trip was Quade Green’s departure. The sophomore point guard started the first three games of the Bahamas trip and played well, looking like a veteran leader in Kentucky’s backcourt. Of course, Green ended up transferring nine games into the regular season once Ashton Hagans asserted himself as the starting point guard.

“This team is going to be special”

We didn’t reach 2014 levels of excitement during the 2018 trip, but we came close. In reading our coverage, we used the word “special” a lot.

“So much talent, so little to complain about. So much personality. So much excitement. So much intensity,” Jack wrote. “When it comes down to it, it’s impossible to not get giddy about this group of kids.”

“It’s impossible to not think crazy thoughts about this team’s potential,” Drew said. “They’re two deep at every need and position on the floor (outside of maybe the wing behind Keldon Johnson) with everything you’d want in your arsenal. They have speed, size, athleticism, shooting, more athleticism, physicality inside, lockdown defense, confidence, selfless attitudes and all the other traits and abilities you’d ever want in a championship team. It’s only August so we shouldn’t get carried away, but it’s hard not to.”

“This team’s attitude is special,” I agreed. “I don’t know what lies ahead for this squad, but after six days of watching them, I do know they love basketball, are desperate to succeed, and thrive on competition.”

Stupid Auburn.

2022 Bahamas Trip: ?

Kentucky’s third Bahamas exhibition tour moves to the Baha Mar resort. This week, the Cats will play two national teams (Dominican Republic U22 and Bahamas) along with a highly-regarded Canadian college team (Carleton University) and a professional team from Mexico (Monterey Tech).

Schedule (all games will air live on the SEC Network)